The UTC Disabilities Resource Center serves about 1,500 students and of that group, almost 500 of them use some form of accessible technology. Many of the resources available on campus will be highlighted this Wednesday at the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) Showcase. Exhibits and displays will be set up in the Tennessee Room of the University Center, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
If you go
What: Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) Showcase
When: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8
Where: Tennessee Room, University Center
Admission: Free
Faculty and staff are invited to drop in and learn more about accessibility of materials and services and what resources are available at UTC.
“It is important for UTC to have this event because technology makes things easier for the majority of the population, but when managed appropriately with accessibility in mind, technology can make things previously impossible, possible for people with disabilities,” said Michelle Rigler, director of the DRC. “These specific technologies can actually be beneficial to everyone.”
Accessible technology allows UTC to become more effective in teaching, learning and work. The showcase is a good way to show how easy it is to adopt and use accessible documents and webpages, accessible textbooks and instructional materials, video captioning, screen readers, accessibility in information systems, accessibility and the UTC Library, accessibility and online instruction and more.
“The ATI committee was established to ensure that UTC is a place where everyone—students, faculty, staff, and visitors—can fully engage with what is happening in offices, classrooms, and elsewhere on campus,” said Aisha McGriff, senior instructional developer in the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning. “The ATI showcase provides an opportunity for awareness and education to help UTC remain a leader in accessibility within the UT system. We hope faculty and staff who attend will learn that making things accessible is not as difficult as they might have thought.”
Examples of what you can experience and learn about at the showcase:
- Screenreader and ZoomText for people with visual impairments
- Captioning and communication for people with hearing impairments
- Accessible social media
- Accessible course content and course design
There will be door prizes and light refreshments. The Grand Prize is a university-owned Surface Pro.
“Over the past few years, the work of UTC’s ATI committee has resulted in great progress in making teaching and learning more accessible to everyone on campus,” said Dawn Ford, assistant provost for teaching and learning.
If you are interested in accessibility, but cannot attend, please contact WCTL at wctl@utc.edu with your questions.
